Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19
And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat Exodus 35:6-7
Introduction
To many, the Ark of the Covenant is a source of ancient mystery or a prop from movie history. However, for those who study the Bible, the most significant aspect is not the golden chest but its lid, known as the mercy seat. The kapporet, a gold slab in Hebrew, was positioned between two hammered-gold cherubim. Their wings extended over the middle, forming what was considered God’s earthly throne.
The mercy seat in the Old Testament’s Holy of Holies was where divine justice and human reconciliation intersected. The High Priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement, would use the blood of a sacrificed lamb on it to cleanse the people of their sins, thereby turning aside God’s anger and reconciling the people of Israel to Him.
Yet, this golden lid served only as a “shadow” of a far more significant reality. Paul, in the New Testament, states that Jesus Christ is the actual mercy seat (hilasterion), the supreme offering who unites mankind with the Father by His own blood. From the stunning visual parallel of the angels in the empty tomb to the “at-one-ment” achieved through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, the mercy seat serves as the definitive picture of how a holy God makes a way for sinful people to enter His presence.
In this post, we will explore the rich symbolism of the kapporeth and discover why this ancient artifact remains at the heart of the Gospel message today.
Word Origin
The Hebrew word kapporeth (כפורת) is translated “mercy seat” or “seat of atonement”. This word is found 27 times in the Old Testament and is derived from the Hebrew, kaphar (כפר) which means “to cover”. The kapporeth is the cover of the Ark of the Covenant. This “cover” is known as the “mercy seat”. Exodus 25 is the first time kapporeth is mentioned in the Old Testament.
The Mercy Seat
The Mercy Seat was the holiest spot in the holy of holies of the Tabernacle of the Lord. This lid, crafted from a solid gold piece, was for the Ark of the Covenant. The mercy seat sat above the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the “tokens of the covenant,” such as the tablets of the law, the manna, and Aaron’s rod. The sight was stunningly beautiful, with angelic wings forming an arch above it, evoking Heaven’s essence.
The mercy seat is defined by the following characteristics:
1. Physical and Symbolic Design
- Cherubim: The seat featured two cherubim with outstretched wings that arose from and overshadowed the lid.
- The Footstool of God: Some scholars view the Ark and its mercy seat as the footstool of God’s heavenly throne, serving as the point where the divine King’s feet touched the earth and linked the two realms.
- The Concept of “Covering”: The root term kpr (kippur) relates to the act of “covering” sin but also implies “repairing a rift”.
2. Ritual Context: The Day of Atonement
- Sprinkling of Blood: Once a year on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of sacrificial animals upon the mercy seat to atone for the sins of Israel.
- The Ritual Embrace: Hugh Nibley argues that the literal meaning of the terms associated with the mercy seat (kaphar and kippurim) relates to a close and intimate embrace at the kapporeth, signifying a oneness of heart and mind that amounts to becoming one with God.
3. Typological Significance of Christ
- Christ as the Mercy Seat: Paul uses the Greek word for mercy seat (hilasterion) in Romans 3:24-26 to show the literal fulfillment of Old Testament mercy seat through Jesus’ great sacrifice.
- The Great High Priest: In this typology, Christ acts as the Great High Priest who sheds His own blood to atone for humanity’s sins, overcoming the effects of the Fall.
- Throne of Grace: The “throne of grace” mentioned in Hebrews 4:16 is often associated with the presence of God and his “mercy seat”.
- Tokens of Christ: The Ark of the Covenant and its contents foreshadow Jesus Christ and His work. Each element within and upon the Ark carries a distinct symbolic meaning: Aaron’s rod that blossomed was originally placed in the Ark to represent God’s priesthood, and the rod symbolizes Christ as the Great High Priest. God’s covenant with His people, fulfilled in Christ, is symbolized by the stone tablets. The Golden Bowl of Manna is to remind His people of Christ as the “True Manna” or the true bread from heaven. Their true daily bread.
- The Throne as the Mercy Seat: The “throne” described in Revelation chapters 4 and 5 is viewed as the heavenly fulfillment of the mercy seat. Just as the earthly mercy seat was the place of God’s presence between the cherubim, the heavenly throne is the center of divine glory, surrounded by angels who cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy”.
The Mercy Seat and the Empty Tomb
The angels in the empty tomb on Easter morning are often seen as a typological parallel to the Ark of the Covenant’s mercy seat.
The following details illustrate how the scene in the tomb mirrors the Ark:
- Physical Positioning: In John 20:12, Mary Magdalene sees two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been, “one at the head and one at the feet”. This layout precisely replicates the description of the Ark in Exodus 25:18–19, where God commanded two golden cherubim to be placed at each end of the mercy seat.
- The Burial Slab as the Mercy Seat: The stone slab where Jesus was laid is seen as the New Testament “antitype” or fulfillment of the Old Testament mercy seat (kapporet). Just as the mercy seat was the lid of the Ark and the focal point of the Holy of Holies, the burial slab became the site where the ultimate act of atonement was finalized.
- The Presence of Blood: At the empty tomb, the two angels flanked the blood-stained grave clothes that remained after Jesus rose, representing the “sprinkled blood of the Lamb” that provides final forgiveness.
- The Manifestation of God’s Glory: In the Old Testament, the “Shekinah glory” of God dwelt between the wings of the cherubim above the mercy seat. Some commentators suggest the angels in the tomb “flooded it with celestial glory,” indicating that the resurrection was the brightest manifestation of God’s glory and the fulfillment of His presence among His people.
- Witnessing Peace and Reconciliation: The cherubim on the Ark looked toward one another and toward the mercy seat, witnessing the sacrifice. Similarly, the angels in the tomb served as witnesses to the victory over death, signaling that “peace was to be expected in the true propitiatory, Jesus Christ” and that the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity had been demolished.
Through this mirroring, the empty tomb is presented as the true Holy of Holies, where Jesus, acting as both the High Priest and the sacrificial Lamb, entered to obtain “eternal redemption”.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the mercy seat is far more than an ancient artifact of gold and craftsmanship; it is a profound “picture worth a million words” that bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments. While the golden kapporet in the Tabernacle reminded God’s people of the Savior’s ultimate sacrifice and victory.
